1965markaccount

Next Friday I will have had my 01 convertible for 14 years. The original top has lost its fight to the elements and is going to be replaced. I am trying to get some input into which color to go with. The car is Torch Red with a white top from the factory. For the same price ($1100) I can replace the top with the factory material white or go with a black top. If you had the choice which way would you go? Granted I know ultimately its mine to live with but I thought I would try and get a feel for what others would do.

JR-01

I would go with the tan. White shows dirt more and black gets really hot. My Magnetic red Vette has the tan top. I like it.



This isn't mine.

stu12dozen

What color is the interior?

megawatt1203

I like a black top.

bjones7131

I would stay with original color

GREENKAR

I have an '01 with tan top, very Color of car is green (Dark Bowling Green Metallic) and tan looks very good.

1965markaccount

interior is gray. The boss said black and to be honest the white was hard to keep clean. Is the black material more of a cloth? The white top was made of hartz twill cloth which was a sort of a plastic type of material. Not that it was bad in fact it lasted a long time. At present it had split at all of the places where the material folded. As a result there are splits at almost every brace/fold point. This along with the places where the twill fast cloth has just deteriorated leaving holes in the material makes me think that maybe the black cloth type material maybe a better option.

1965markaccount

I loved the original color which is why I ordered the car this way. The reason I got the color in the first place was because it is the first car I remember from my childhood. A 68 vert red with a white top. My brother gives me crap about it because he claims they are "girly" colors but what does he know. He is restoring a 68 mustang frankenbuild. It has a 04 cobra drive train wedged into a beat up 68 body. It will be fast as heck if he can keep the tires on the ground but who knows.

Sam Handwich

What about a red top? I would consider a red top for my white vert.

65GGvert

The original white tops were vinyl. I think if you have a gray interior a gray top would look good and not seen everywhere. Second choice would be a black top. If you don't mind the cleaning, white tops are rare and look good too. Pick the color that makes you turn back and look at the car every time you walk away from it.

1965markaccount

A red top on a white vett would look good depending on the interior but it would also be a cost issue. When I bought the car I was single. Now . . . cost is a consideration and a red top would be a one off for the car which would mean considerable increase in price. Might not pass the bosses purse strings.

stu12dozen

I will cast my vote for the black. It will compliment the gray interior and won't show the dirt like the lighter colors. Forget a red top. A few years from now when it begins to fade it will look like crap. In addition, if "SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED" says black, then why even ask?

1965markaccount

Because even though "SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED" has a powerful voice I would like the believe (even if it is just in my own mind) that I have a say in things. In reality it is my car and was before we were married and will be if anything ever happens so its my choice. I am just trying to get some ideas. I am leaning towards black and I have until tomorrow to decide. I dropped the car off today to the shop and I am waiting on a price for the strip that dry rotted on the bottom of the top that runs along the base at the rear of the top. I told him to put a white top on the car and I am second guessing myself because of the cleaning issue. For that reason I am putting out the question to get some ideas. I will see the installer in the morning and give him a final color at that time.

To the red top I think you are right. In a few years it might fade to pink and then my brother would have a valid point.

oyealiz

I vote black. My c6 was red with a black top, and I love that combo. Plus it will stay looking nice without the worries about it looking dirty.

ironranger

Black definitely with the gray interior.
I like red verts with tan interior and tan tops, however, with the gray interior I don't believe tan would be the way to go.
BLACK!

Koufax

If you can get grey without spending extra, get grey. If not, black. Tal looks good too, but does not match the interior.

always1961

Definitely black...

1lowc5

Its time for a change

I would do a black top. and lightly tint the windows.

phoneman91

I have a 01 with Torch Red and Light Oak interior and LO convertible top. Light colored tops may get dirty over time. I have seen many Oak tops that have stains that can't easily be removed.

Black tops would seem to me to hide many stains and would be easier to keep looking nice.

1965markaccount

Thanks for all of the input guys. Decided on the black top. For one it will be easier to keep clean. I loved the white for the reasons stated above. Always made me turn around for another look. It was however difficult to keep clean and as the top got older it stained which I could not correct. Made it look "off" when the top was up. The black will be easier and besides now it will look like a new car to me. I'll post some picks when the job is completed.

One last thing, does anyone know where I can pick up the rear bow weather stripping? Dealership has it for around $250 and it is the same for the aftermarket places I have looked at and I cannot find much information with a google search. If anyone has a source it would be appreciated.